[4] Painful realization

As the last person melted out of the room, the heavy silence left behind tasted like indifference, tinged with a hint of pity.

It was as if Leo had become invisible, his presence dismissed as inconsequential by those who just moments ago shared the suffocating air of tension.

The practiced efficiency of the maids as they retreated was like whispers fading into the wind, and the butlers followed suit, their departure marking the end of the suffocating drama that had just unfolded.

Yet, amidst the exodus, a single shadow lingered, a lone specter in the echoing emptiness. It was Rio, the embodiment of problems, a big bully in plane sight

"Long time no see, brother," his voice crackled, laced with an irritating amusement. "I heard the gossip about how you mistreated that sweet little thing. So, just out of curiosity, was it spite against Father? After all, you had a fiancée, or should I say, had, since she dumped you!" His laughter echoed harshly, bouncing off the polished floors and ornate furniture.

'Mistreated? What is everyone talking about? And what fiancée? This is getting messed up!' Panic gnawed at Leo's insides, but fueled by an unfamiliar defiance, he ignored Rio's jibes and headed towards the exit.

This, however, was a misstep. Rio sprung into action, his voice hardening as he grabbed Leo's shoulder. "Wait," he hissed, his grip tightening. "Did you just walk out on me?!" His face contorted into a grimace, and his voice dropped to a dangerous growl, "Seems I haven't disciplined you enough lately."

The venom in his words was unmistakable, and before Leo could react, Rio spun him around, his grip unforgiving.

But in that split second, something shifted within Leo. It was a desperate, primal instinctual reaction, a flicker of defiance in the face of overwhelming power.

THUD!.

His fist connected with Rio's solar plexus, a blow meant to stun him, to create an opening. But to his shock, "What?!", it landed with barely a ripple. Panic surged through him like wildfire as he stared at Rio, whose rage seemed to intensify with each passing second.

Before Leo could even blink, Rio's grip tightened further, his fury palpable as he prepared to unleash his wrath. But just as his fist drew dangerously close, another presence intervened with the swiftness of a phantom.

"I wouldn't recommend fighting in the Duke's mansion," the butler spoke, his voice devoid of emotion, yet chillingly effective. "The consequences are rarely pleasant."

The air crackled with tension as the butler's words hung heavy, his indifference a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within Leo and Rio. With a final, contemptuous glance, Rio retreated, leaving Leo to grapple with the harsh reality of his situation: he was powerless.

"Was I always this weak?" he muttered, the weight of his predicament settling heavily upon him. His mind raced, his thoughts a tempestuous sea of uncertainty and doubt. The grand plans he had hatched just moments ago now seemed like childish fantasies.

As the sun slowly descended beyond the horizon, leaving behind a golden glow that faded into darkness, the sky was transformed into a vast canvas of twinkling stars.

The silver moon appeared, casting a soft light on the world below. 

In Leo's room, the moonlight filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating the space with a warm, inviting glow.

Leo was seated on the bed, deep in thought, as he wrestled with the weight of his emotions and the turmoil that threatened to engulf him. His mind was a tempestuous sea, tossing and turning with waves of uncertainty and doubt.

He had many plans hatching in the corner of his mind, but those plans were now silly fantasies at this rate.

"Mel, how can I get stronger?" he asked, his voice laced with desperation, clinging to any hope he could find.

"Stronger in what way exactly?" the enigmatic voice replied.

"What do you mean? Stronger to fight, to defend myself!" Leo snapped, frustration gnawing at him.

"Oh, you discovered you're weak? Fantastic realization!" the voice mocked, its sarcasm grating on Leo's already frayed nerves.

"This isn't funny, Mel! I'm serious. How can I get stronger?"

"Alright, say the word 'status,'" the voice instructed.

Hesitantly, Leo obeyed.

Suddenly, a translucent blue screen materialized before him, its elegant design a stark contrast to the turmoil within him.

[SURVIVAL SYSTEM

NAME: Leo Constel, "Image",

Title: Stepping Stone,

"Villain", LEVEL: 0

MANA POINT: Error,

VITALITY: 130p,

STRENGTH: 4p,

ENDURANCE: 5p,

INTELLIGENCE: 650p,

LP: 0p,

SS: 0p,

EXP: 0p,]

"Level zero? Shouldn't it at least be at level one?!" Leo exclaimed, his heart sinking further.

"Indeed," the voice confirmed, devoid of any sympathy. "But you are an exception," it added.

"Why?! Why am I starting from scratch?" Leo screamed, his frustration finally bursting forth.

"You are currently inhabiting the body of the most hated individual in this world, you are hate by the god of @-$+$(@8(##, so this much is mercy" Mel explained, her words carrying the weight of a cruel truth.

"Hated?" Leo's voice cracked, his disbelief echoing in the emptiness of the room.

"Yes, hated," Mel said bluntly.

 "If you are wondering by whom, then don't. It should be obvious. And you practically have no luck," Mel's voice dripped with disdain, her words a cruel reminder of Leo's dire circumstances.

"So basically, you mean I'm here to suffer?!" Leo's frustration boiled over, his hands trembling as he ran them through his hair, a futile attempt to grasp onto any semblance of control.

"It's retribution, stupid! What did you expect? A bed of roses or a harem on the corner? If you did, then you're in for a hellish life. You'd be lucky to survive for a month," the voice spat venomously, its words a venomous reminder of Leo's grim fate.

Leo's shoulders slumped in defeat, his spirit broken by the weight of his sins. "Haa. You keep saying retribution. Retribution from what exactly!" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"UNAUTHORIZED," the voice declared, its words echoing through the chamber like a death knell.

Leo's world spun as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of his situation. "....Haa.." he choked out, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he fought to maintain his composure.

"But this doesn't mean there is no solution," Mel's voice cut through the darkness, a beacon of hope amidst the despair.

"Really?... Then, what is the solution?" Leo's voice trembled with newfound hope, his heart racing at the prospect of salvation.

"Instead of having that dead thing in your belly, we can implant a new mana core in your body, similar to a kidney transplant," Mel explained, her words a lifeline in Leo's sea of despair.

"You should have said so from the beginning," Leo's voice was tinged with relief, a faint glimmer of a smile dancing across his lips.

"Don't get too happy, the pain you are going to face this time would be no different from ripping your torso off your conscious body," the mechanical voice interjected, its warning a stark reminder of the trials that lay ahead.

"What?" Leo's hope faltered, his resolve wavering in the face of such daunting odds.

"Prepare Leo.....for hell," the voice intoned ominously, its words a chilling reminder of the trials that awaited him in the days to come.